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A Beginner’s Guide To Hitting Irons In Golf

Let us admit, all golf players love to hit a massive drive off the tee and over the treetops towards the hole. A long drive is always very amazing, specifically if you are playing with new acquaintances; but, long drives are useless if you cannot sink a putt. Short shot with an iron is far more important than long shots with a wood. For beginners or untrained golfers, short is one of the most difficult shot to operate in a play. This article will provide some information on how to hit irons effectively when playing golf.

Step #1: The Right Alignment of the Body and Proper Posture

The correct setup of the body such as proper posture and alignment is the first step to an effective hit. Bending of the body is what most beginner in golf players normally do, which is wrong. An inexperienced golfer will bend from the back over the club instead of at the waist. The swing trajectory of the ball will be afflicted and you will experience a great deal of muscle pain at the back due to too much use. Maintain a straight back while playing golf but not rigid. Tilt through the waist allowing for swing through the hips. To maintain the balance while doing the swing, it is essential to have your body in even position over the feet.

Step #2: Ball Placement

An overlooked aspect of setting up iron shots is that of ball placement. As essential as long drives, short shot position must also be considered by golfers. When talking about ball position here, we are talking about its position according to your body setup. The ball being not farther back on the sternum and not far enough beyond the left armpit is the proper ball and body placement. When the shot is to far forward, it will result to a poor slice as well as putt which most beginners do. You must try straightening your sternum if the ball moves to the ground when involved, then try hitting again.

Step #3: Takeaway position

The manner wherein the club is retracted and hit through is named takeaway position. The style of the takeaway is important as it contributes greatly to the kind of swing that will be performed and its success. The 2-8-2 rule is being used when hitting an iron. The first two refers to first two inches of the takeaway where the club travels straight back. It is important to move the body (arm, legs and shoulders) in sync. At 8 inches, the club curves upwards but without moving the wrists. Lastly, in 12 inches, the wrist turns making the shaft horizontal to the ground. The shoulders should be tight and also the hands should be in shoulder level. Follow through along the target line and then hit the ball with a square iron face, do this after forming the takeaway.

Step #4: Consider The Course

As vital as the setup and follow through of the swing, the layout should also be looked at. Any changes while executing a swing or takeaway, will be because of the surface of the ground where it’s being executed. If you are playing on a downhill slope, it’s always best to execute a downswing for the ball will fall towards the hole. If the ground is green and has a slight downhill slope, a slight curve would be great to allow gravitational pull. It’s always best to remove any obstructions to have a greater shot.